Colorado Professional Development Plan for Early Childhood Educators and Providers

Transcription

1 Colorado Professional Development Plan for Early Childhood Educators and Providers GOAL: Early childhood professionals have the knowledge, skills, and supports to work effectively with and on behalf of families and children. Early Learning 1. Develop and support use of early learning standards by families, programs, and professionals. A. Issue Credentials issued early childhood credentials issued infant toddler endorsement issued School Age/Youth Credentials July 2009 June B. Maintains the online tools for the Basic and Advanced Credential Assessments C. Promote Early Learning Guidelines as developed by the P-3 subcommittee of Governor Ritter s P-20 Education Coordinating Council D. Develop a crosswalk between early Learning Guidelines and EC Core Knowledge and Standards issued Social Emotional Credentials Updated assessment questions Provide technical assistance to all testing sites Develop a link on the website to the Guidelines and document the number of people who go to that site Crosswalk is created and disseminated through the website and at meetings. Documentation of visits to that part of the website and the number of crosswalks handed Three new test banks from textbooks updated July 2009 June Three additional test banks from textbooks updated July June Ongoing especially during the assessment periods (six times from July 2009 June ) Winter and updated as needed through June Completed Spring Dissemination through June 1

2 out 2. Develop, promote, and support high quality professional development and formal education for adults who work with young children. A. Manage Online Learning and Technology 1) Assist in promoting, developing and facilitating non-credit online courses for early childhood professionals Creation of at least one online class on either Professionalism or Interdisciplinary Collaboration to meet requirements of the new social and emotional health credential Oct, Nov, Dec, 2009 Hold the online class. Creation of the complementary online class Spring, Fall and Spring Summer Hold the online class Fall and Spring 2) Advance the use of technology by the early childhood (EC) faculty at community colleges and students online and in face-to-face courses and the early childhood workforce The ECE 101 Introduction to Early Childhood and its accompanying lab ECE 102 will Fall 2009 ECE 103 Guidance and ECE 238 Child Development will ECE 220 Curriculum Development and ECE 205 Nutrition Health and Safety will ECE 240 Administration and ECE 241 Human Relations will Spring Fall Spring 3) Market and promote online learning Present on the online early childhood program at eight conferences Summer 2009 Fall 2009, Spring, Summer, Fall and Spring 2

3 B. Work with and support Colorado s Community Colleges and four year colleges and universities to do the following: - Facilitate further discussion of articulation agreements with early childhood among institutions of higher education Work with the Lieutenant Governor s Office, the P- 3 subcommittee, and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education. Distribute flyers at a minimum of 20 meetings Update online information on the website at the beginning of each semester Articulation among community colleges and four year institutions of higher learning is an integral part of state plans on a system of early childhood professional development, such as the Race to the Top grant Work with the Colorado Children s Campaign to pass legislation to do a study on the articulation problems in Colorado July 1009 June August 2009, Dec 2009, May, August, Dec, May Fall 2009 Spring Spring Attend meetings and host online meetings with early childhood coordinators at the community colleges NAEYC accreditation is obtained by 3 Colorado Community Colleges 3. Improve financial sustainability and governing efficiency of early learning programs and infrastructure. A. Participate in the Educator Sub-Committee as Documentation of attendance an advisor to Governor Ritter s P-20 Education at meetings and copies of work Coordinating Council Attend meetings of the P-20 produced Council and the Educator Sub-Committee and draft legislation and policy changes for the Governor s consideration If funded, participate in the Race to the Top implementation team B. Attend meetings and work on policy: evaluation; technical assistance; and the application process C. Contribute to the Governor Ritter P-3 Subcommittee s work on teacher preparation and the Early Childhood Challenge Grant D. Participate in the design and writing of the Race to the Top grant Attend meetings, develop written strategies, review drafts Documentation of attendance at meetings and copies of work produced Documentation of attendance and copies of recommended policy changes Have in place one consolidated state system of early childhood education licensing and credentialing Documentation of meetings attended, copies of the written strategies developed Summer June July 2009 Winter 3

4 FOUNDATIONAL STRATEGIES 4. Build and Support Partnerships A. Collaborate and communicate with early childhood stakeholder groups to ensure that professional development continues to be an important component of the quality ratings and tiered reimbursement strategies for early care and education settings. Work with the Lieutenant Governor s Office B. Provide and/or coordinate technical assistance to communities about professional development including professional and career development resources and guidance. 5. Fund and Invest A. Develop a sustainability plan within the early childhood systems building framework. Continue working with stakeholders B. Explore the establishment of credentialing fees Work with the CCD to review the feasibility of charging fees, and if feasible, work with Early Childhood Councils C. Seek other funding sources Write the following grants Luminary Foundation Private Colorado Foundations Federal grants 6. Change Policy A. Complete an annual training needs assessment to assess the needs for specific provider trainings to support professional development. B. Develop a training capacity assessment tool to be shared with Early Childhood Councils C. Pursue the coordination of the Early Childhood Professional Credential with early childhood teacher licensing as part of an early childhood professional development system. Work with Governor Ritter s P-3 sub- committee, the Division of Child Care, the Colorado Department of Education, the Race to the Top committees, the Colorado Children s Campaign, DORA and other stakeholders 7. Build Public Engagement A. Market the services provided by the Office: Documentation of regular attendance at appropriate stakeholder meetings: Early Childhood Council Leadership Alliance (ECCLA), Early Childhood Summit, Colorado After-School Network (CAN), Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.), the Colorado Association of Infant Mental Health (COAIMH), the Early Childhood Mental Health and inclusion Center Document community meetings, phone calls, s, updated website of resources, and distribution of written brochures Sustainability plan created Credentialing fee process and schedule submitted to Division of Child Care for review and approval. Copies of any grant applications submitted at least three grants per year July June July June Summer 2009 Fees started Summer Summer 2009 June Print report and disseminate Spring Tool developed, shared and put on website Agreement created and ratified to ensure coordination between the Early Childhood Professional Credential and early childhood teacher licensing processes. Summer Fall August 2009 June 4

5 Online Programs, Credentials, Career Counseling, Resource, and Information -Through COPD website Development of new website Summer Distribute brochures including the Career Pathways brochure -Presentations B. Link leadership training with early childhood professionals C. Link and align eligible early childhood professionals with coaching and mentorship opportunities Website and links are current Ongoing at least quarterly 5,000 6,000 distributed presentations to local & state conferences and Early Childhood Council meetings List of available trainings is updated at least annually on the website Information updated on website Work with Clayton, CDE, Qualistar and stakeholders to establish quality criteria Track the number of users who access the information on the website Fall 2009 and Fall Winter and Winter July June 8. Share Accountability A. Assure accountability of the Office through timely reporting of professional development activities. B. Utilize the customer satisfaction survey developed by OMNI Quarterly reports to the Division of Child Care, Early Intervention Colorado and Director s Reports for the Advisory Board Survey results shared internally and with other appropriate parties. October 2009 January April July October January April July Bi-Annually Winter Document adjustments made to improve performance of OPD C. Staff the Professional Development Advisory Meeting Agendas (4 meetings a Board and its committees year) 9. Generate Education and Leadership Opportunities A. Integrate and maintain a centralized list of Document changes to training professional development and training database opportunities for early childhood professionals B. Integrate and maintain a centralized list of individuals and organizations that provide appropriate early childhood professional development and/or training to early childhood professionals Approved trainer database maintained at OPD Teach the online noncredit training for ECE Trainers course (adult learners course) Bi-Annually Spring July 2009 June Six times between July 2009 June 5

6 C. Maintain a centralized list of individuals who have or are registered to participate in professional development or other appropriate early childhood training classes coordinated through or provided by the OPD D. Facilitate access to training opportunities for early childhood providers who are English language learners (especially Spanish-speaking providers). List is maintained of those taking and completing the online noncredit training for ECE Trainers course (adult learners course) Map of current trainings offered in Spanish 3 times a year X 2 years Updated on website at least once a year Winter and Winter 6